1981 Buick Electra vs. 1987 Lotus Esprit
To start off, 1987 Lotus Esprit is newer by 6 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 Buick Electra. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 Buick Electra would be higher. At 4,129 cc (6 cylinders), 1981 Buick Electra is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1987 Lotus Esprit (172 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 49 more horse power than 1981 Buick Electra. (123 HP @ 4000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1987 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1981 Buick Electra. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 Buick Electra weights approximately 588 kg more than 1987 Lotus Esprit.
Both vehicles are rear wheel drive (RWD) - it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, both vehicles do the job better than front wheel drive vehicles. With that said, do keep in mind that many other factors such as speed and the wear on your tires can also have significant impact on traction and control. Let's talk about torque, 1981 Buick Electra (278 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 57 more torque (in Nm) than 1987 Lotus Esprit. (221 Nm @ 5000 RPM). This means 1981 Buick Electra will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1987 Lotus Esprit. 1981 Buick Electra has automatic transmission and 1987 Lotus Esprit has manual transmission. 1987 Lotus Esprit will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1981 Buick Electra will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1981 Buick Electra | 1987 Lotus Esprit | |
| Make | Buick | Lotus |
| Model | Electra | Esprit |
| Year Released | 1981 | 1987 |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 4129 cc | 2174 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 4 valves |
| Horse Power | 123 HP | 172 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 278 Nm | 221 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 100.7 mm | 95.3 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 86.4 mm | 76.2 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1692 kg | 1104 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5650 mm | 4340 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1990 mm | 1870 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1400 mm | 1140 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 3030 mm | 2460 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 95 L | 67 L |
